Washington & Jefferson football player was killed in October

Three men have been held for trial in the death of a Washington & Jefferson College football player fatally hurt during an alleged robbery last October. During their preliminary hearing, Washington police Lt. Dan Stanek testified that Eric Wells, 24 of Penn Hills, Adam Hankins, 23 of Washington, and Troy Simmons, 23, of East Pittsburgh all admitted being involved.

Twenty-one-year old W&J football standout Timothy McNerney died from a head injury suffered when he hit the ground after being punched. Investigators say Wells threw the fatal punch.

District Judge Robert Redlinger also heard testimony from the second victim. Zachary DeCicco survived the attack that took the life of the young football player. One the morning of Oct. 4, 2012, he and McNerney were walking from a bar back to campus. He says they were confronted by the three suspects, one of whom demanded his cellphone. DeCicco described being pummeled with punches and kicks when he refused to give up his phone. He testified that he managed to get up from the ground and ran for help, not seeing that his friend and fellow W&J football player McNerney was not able to get away.

Peter Marcoline, Wells' defense attorney, told reporters after the hearing that "I have never seen a client more remorseful than him." He quoted Wells as telling him, "I threw a punch and immediately upon seeing the way he fell, realized 'dear God, what happened?' "

The victim's father, Robert McNerney praised prosecutors after the hearing and said "their evidence is very strong. We're very encouraged that they'll be brought to justice and hopefully get what they entirely deserve." Washington and Jefferson football coach Mark Sirianni attended the hearing, but did not speak with reporters, nor did victim DeCicco.

Marcoline said "a fight ensued and tragically, because of one punch, one young man lost his life. This was not an intentional killing."

There was no testimony at the hearing suggesting that McNerney or DeCicco were involved in a fight or threw any punches themselves.

Washington County District Attorney Gene Vittone said the investigation is ongoing, but discounted earlier reports that more than three people were involved in attacking the victims. "At this point in the investigation, we believe we have the three actors responsible for this," said Vittone. The district attorney is still not yet revealing what specifically recently led authorities to question these three defendants. The GPS in McNerney's iPhone was tracked to the vicinity of two defendants' homes shortly after the attack and his debit card was used at the Uni-Mart in Washington.

3 TONIGHT-- WE'RE GETTING OUR FIRST LOOK AT THREE MEN CHARGED WITH THE KILLING OF A POPULAR WASHINGTON AND JEFFERSON FOOTBALL PLAYER LAST FALL. THE DEATH OF TIMOTHY McNERNEY-- SHOOK THE W-AND-J CAMPUS. CHANNEL FOUR ACTION NEWS REPORTER BOB MAYO SAYS THE PROSECUTION-- AND THE DEFENSE-- REVEALED A FIRST GLIMPSE OF THE BATTLE THAT WILL COME-- WHEN THE SUSPECTS STAND TRIAL. 3 3 SURVIVOR ZACH DeCICCO DESCRIBED BEING PUMMELED WITH PUNCHES AND KICKS WHEN HE REFUSED TO GIVE UP HIS PHONE. HE RAN FOR HELP, NOT SEEING HIS 3 FRIEND AND FELLOW PLAYER TIM GET AWAY. 3 POLICE TESTIFIED THAT DEFENDANT ERIC WELLS ADMITTED PUNCHING McNERNEY, WHO DIED AFTER HIS HEAD HIT THE GROUND HARD.THAT OCTOBER MORNING THEY WERE WALKING BACK FROM A BAR TO CAMPUS.WELL'S LAWYER SAYS: 3 TELLS HIM: 3 THE VICTIM'S FATHER ROBERT McNERNEY PROSECUTORS: 3 CO-DEFENDANTS ADAM HANKINS AND TROY SIMMONS WERE HELD FOR ROBBERY AND HOMICIDE CHARGES ALONG WITH WELLS. 3